Premium #33433

Comfortable home in the heart of Brussels' African district (mins away from EU quarter!)

Apartment • Ixelles Belgium

    2 Guests  
    2 Bedrooms  
    1 Bathroom  
    Wheelchair accessible
  Primary home

Exchange types accepted

  Simultaneous  
  Non-Simultaneous  
  Non-Reciprocal & Globe  
  Hospitality  

Statistics

Listed  July 2024
Views  426

General overview

Brussels, Belgium. Not a huge city, it is mostly known as the general headquarters of the European Union. When politics meet the land of comic books (Tintin? The Smurfs, anyone?) fries, shellfish and a bit of art nouveau, and street art scattered around the city here and there. Plenty of forests and countryside in its surroundings - the Ardennes are just a train, car or even a cycle ride away. Plenty of museums (Magritte museum: a must-see for art lovers!) and activities for all age groups all year round. A stunning Christmas destination too, with Christmas markets, concerts and yes, sometimes there's snow! But in my view Matonge is something else. An absolute must-experience for anyone visiting the capital. Named after a known area of Kinshasa due to the influx of many Congolese students in the 1950s, this district presents a blend of African and other cultures constantly buzzing and full of colors, noise, music and food. When I moved here four years ago, I was in a very dark place, dealing with a lot of pressure mentally and having to make a lot of big fast decisions. Little did I know I had just made the best investment: I invested in community, warmth and comfort as well as location! If there is anything I have learned that everything can be solved with a smile or asking for help. The Matonge community will never leave you alone, always be at hand to help - and, oh the vibes are just so much fun always! The area is also extremely well connected with Brussels city centre and EU quarter. And if you feel like getting out of the city, well, it is very simple to reach the nearest train stations (Gare Centrale and Gare du Midi) for a day trip in the beautiful towns of Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp (in Belgium) or a hike in the Ardennes (Dinant, Bastogne). It is also possible to go to Spa (easiest with a car): the world's original spa resort, which is also the venue for the Belgian F1 Grand Prix. Paris France is also less than 1 hour away by train, as are Aachen- Germany (Christmas markets!), Maastricht and Amsterdam- Netherlands and Luxembourg! A must-see for all the historians out there: the Battlefield of Waterloo and museum: 32 min by car, 1h12 by public transport. I also recommend visiting a monastery: Belgium has many, and all are hidden in the countryside! Abbeys of Orval and Chimay to name a few: not only are they well known for history/spiritual life but also for their production of trappiste beer and local cheese!

The space

My home is a warm place. This home is the perfect balance of vibrant and quiet/homey. When I moved here I really tried to make it colourful and bring good vibes - it goes with the generally quirky nature of the Matonge district! I have recently redone my kitchen by taking a wall down and adding an island in the middle - it really has opened up the kitchen/living room space. The living room overlooks a busy street with cafes with African cuisine. At times the street can get very musical - from African beats, to live jazz and more (especially in the summer!) I personally love to open my windows and listen to it (no terrace unfortunately - hopefully that will be my next investment!). However in case the music does get a bit much: the bedrooms on the other side of the house are, on the contrary, well insulated and have never not guaranteed a good night's sleep ;) What else can we add? It is a small flat - 80m2, so honestly I think the living space is the selling point! The rest is rather basic and standard for a childless home-owner with a long-distance boyfriend (at least for now :)) I have one double bedroom and a smaller room which - I'll admit - is purely functional and I keep it locked most of the time. However the smaller room can be converted to a guest bedroom by opening the single armchair bed. There is a lamp and a chest of drawers in the small room too.

Guest access

The apartment is on the third floor and there is a smart elevator. All doorways are wheelchair accessible!

Notes

I have a couple of plants, grateful if you could water them :)

Features


Washer
Washer
Dishwasher
Dishwasher
Oven
Oven
Microwave
Microwave
Coffee machine
Coffee machine
Fridge
Fridge
Iron
Iron
Hair dryer
Hair dryer
Heating
Heating
TV
TV
WiFi
WiFi
High Speed Internet
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
Bathtub
Wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Fire extinguisher
Fire extinguisher
Towels
Towels

Travel Styles

    Long term
    Weekend
    Budget
    Romantic
    Foodie
    Relaxing
    City
    Hiking
    Cycling
    Last minute
    Good public transport
    Ukraine support available

House rules

    Suitable for infants under 2
    Suitable for children ages 2-12
    Pets not allowed
    No smoking

Allergens

    Cat free
    Dog free
    Smoke free
    Fragrance free

Dates of Availability

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Neighbourhood

I do not exaggerate when I say that within a 300m radius you can get everything from all retail, to cafes, clothes/vintage shops, coffee places, pizza, burgers, restos, post office, launderette, cinema and bus and metro stops. My street is a pedestrian corner with pretty much only bars and cafes, including Soleil d’Afrique and Cap d’Afrique. A little further down the road there is also a sushi and pizza place. Round the corner (rue de la paix) includes more restaurants (including Belgian, Italian), smash burgers and past the church on your left (pretty and quaint St Boniface) you’ll find a row of vintage second hand shops and a tiny comfy coffee place called Fika (very good quality coffee!)

Nearest airport

Zaventem (25 min by car, 35-45 by bus)

Getting around

Everything one may need is literally walking distance (if you like to walk!!) or a bus/metro ride away Nearest metro/subway: Porte de Namur (5 mins) Nearest park: parc royale (7-8 min walk) Nearest market: place Flagey on Saturdays (20min walk or 4 min bus ride) Nearest supermarkets: Delhaize (3 mins), Carrefour (5 mins) Lidl (5 mins) Nearest station: Gare Centrale (15 mins) Bus stops: St Boniface (3 mins) Tron (6 mins) ATTRACTIONS Magritte museum: 12 min walk Grande Place: 25 min walk, 15 min bus Place St Catherine: 29 min walk, 21 min metro House of European History Parlamentarium (History of the European Parliament): 11 min walk Parc Cinquantenaire/EU quarter: 20-25 min walk DAY or WEEKEND TRIPS: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Dinant, Bastogne (trains from Gare Centrale) Spa: no direct connections via train (2hr40), via car 1h30min Orval abbey: 3hr20 by train, 2h30 by car Chimay abbey: 1h38 by car, 3h by train Battlefield of Waterloo: 32 min by car, 1h10 by bus/train

Map of Approximate Location

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Feedback

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Premium


Emily

Travelling group
LGBTQ+ friendly
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